2025 Championship League (invitational)


The 2025 Championship League Invitational was a professional nonranking snooker tournament, which took place from 3 January 2025 to 5 February 2025 at the Leicester Arena in Leicester, England.
Mark Selby was the defending champion, having won the tournament for the first time after beating Joe O'Connor 31 in the final of the 2024 event. Selby successfully retained the title, defeating Kyren Wilson 30 in the final. There were 177 century breaks made during the tournament, a record for any professional event, of which Jak Jones compiled 32, breaking the record for most centuries in a single tournament previously held jointly by Kyren Wilson and Matthew Selt. Three maximum breaks were made during the event, compiled by Jak Jones in Group 2, David Gilbert in Group 7 and Mark Selby in the Winners' Group; only the fourth time that three maximums had been made in a tournament, after the 2012 UK Championship, the 2017 German Masters, and the previous Championship League invitational event.
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Format

A total of 25 players were initially invited to the event, with the matches played behind closed doors without an audience. Players earned prize money for every won, as well as being semifinalists, runnerup, and winner of each group, with more money involved in the Winners' Group. Since 2010, all matches have been played as the best of five frames.
The tournament was played in a roundrobin format, consisting of eight groups of seven players. The top four players in each group qualified for a playoff, with the winner entering the Winners' Group. The bottom two players in each group were eliminated, and the remaining four moved to the next group, where they were joined by three more players. This format was played for each group, from one to seven. In each group, the players were ranked by the number of matches won, then by most frames won, and then by least frames lost. If two players were tied by these criteria, the player who won the match between them was ranked higher in the table. The group playoff semifinals were contested between the 1st and 4th place players in the table, and between the 2nd and 3rd place players in the table. The Winners' Group was played at the end, and its playoff winner became champion of the tournament.
Group 1 was played on 3 and 4 January; and Groups 2, 3, and 4 were played from 6 to 11 January. Groups 5, 6, and 7 were played from 20 to 25 January; and the Winners' Group was played on 4 and 5 February. The champion takes a place in the 2025 Champion of Champions.
The event was broadcast by Rigour Media in China; Viaplay in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and Iceland; and by Matchroom.live in all other territories. Additionally, table one was streamed live on the Matchroom Pool YouTube channel available in the United Kingdom, with table two being available worldwide on the Matchroom Multi Sport YouTube channel.

Prize fund

The breakdown of prize money for the 2025 Championship League is as follows:
  • Groups 1–7
  • *Winner: £3,000
  • *Runner-up: £2,000
  • *Semi-final: £1,000
  • *Frame-win : £100
  • *Frame-win : £300
  • *Highest break: £500
  • Winners' Group
  • *Winner: £10,000
  • *Runner-up: £5,000
  • *Semi-final: £3,000
  • *Frame-win : £200
  • *Frame-win : £300
  • *Highest break: £1,000
  • Maximum possible tournament total: £205,000
  • Minimum possible tournament total: £152,800

Group 1

Group 1 was played on 3 and 4 January 2025. At the end of the first day, Hossein Vafaei led the group. Vafaei won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group. There were 19 century breaks made in Group 1, the highest of which was a 135 made by Jak Jones.

Group 1 league matches

3 January

  • Chris Wakelin 1–3 Gary Wilson
  • Jak Jones 2–3 Hossein VafaeiRyan Day 3–1 Elliot Slessor
  • Chris Wakelin 0–3 Pang JunxuHossein Vafaei 3–1 Elliot Slessor
  • Gary Wilson 2–3 Jak JonesChris Wakelin 3–2 Jak JonesRyan Day 3–2 Pang Junxu
  • Gary Wilson 1–3 Hossein VafaeiPang Junxu 3–1 Elliot SlessorChris Wakelin 3–2 Hossein VafaeiJak Jones 3–1 Elliot Slessor

4 January

Chris Wakelin 3–1 Ryan Day
  • Gary Wilson 2–3 Elliot Slessor
  • Hossein Vafaei 0–3 Pang Junxu
  • Jak Jones 0–3 Ryan Day
  • Chris Wakelin 1–3 Elliot Slessor
  • Gary Wilson 2–3 Pang JunxuHossein Vafaei 3–0 Ryan DayJak Jones 3–0 Pang Junxu
  • Gary Wilson 0–'''3 Ryan Day'''

Group 2

Group 2 was played on 6 and 7 January 2025. At the end of the first day, Chris Wakelin led the group. Si Jiahui won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group. There were 15 century breaks made in Group 2, the highest of which was a maximum break made by Jak Jones, the first 147 of his professional career in a league match victory over Chris Wakelin.

Group 2 league matches

6 January

Ali Carter 3–1 Si JiahuiChris Wakelin 3–0 Robert Milkins
  • Ali Carter 2–3 Pang Junxu
  • Jak Jones 2–3 Ryan DaySi Jiahui 3–1 Robert MilkinsChris Wakelin 3–0 Ryan DayJak Jones 3–0 Pang Junxu
  • Ali Carter 2–3 Robert Milkins
  • Pang Junxu 0–3 Ryan DaySi Jiahui 3–2 Chris Wakelin
  • Ali Carter 2–3 Jak JonesRobert Milkins 3–1 Ryan Day

7 January

Si Jiahui 3–1 Ryan DayAli Carter 3–1 Chris Wakelin
  • Jak Jones 1–3 Robert MilkinsChris Wakelin 3–1 Pang JunxuAli Carter 3–2 Ryan DaySi Jiahui 3–0 Pang Junxu
  • Chris Wakelin 0–3 Jak JonesSi Jiahui 3–2 Jak JonesPang Junxu 3–1 Robert Milkins

Group 3

Group 3 was played on 8 and 9 January 2025. At the end of the first day, Mark Selby led the group. Kyren Wilson won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group. There were 20 century breaks made in Group 3, the highest of which was a 140 made by Selby.

Group 3 league matches

8 January

  • Kyren Wilson 1–3 Mark SelbyAli Carter 3–0 Robert MilkinsAli Carter 3–0 Jak JonesMark Selby 3–1 Robert MilkinsJak Jones 3–2 Chris Wakelin
  • Ali Carter 0–3 Chris WakelinKyren Wilson 3–1 Robert MilkinsMark Selby 3–1 Ali Carter
Results not counted after O'Sullivan's withdrawal:
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan 2–3 Chris WakelinKyren Wilson 3–1 Ronnie O'Sullivan
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan 2–3 Mark SelbyRonnie O'Sullivan 3–2 Jak Jones

9 January

Kyren Wilson 3–2 Ali Carter
  • Chris Wakelin 2–3 Robert MilkinsMark Selby 3–0 Jak JonesKyren Wilson 3–1 Chris WakelinJak Jones 3–2 Robert MilkinsKyren Wilson 3–1 Jak JonesMark Selby 3–0 Chris Wakelin
Result not counted after O'Sullivan's withdrawal:
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan 2–3 Robert Milkins
Match not played:
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan v Ali Carter

Group 4

Group 4 was played on 10 and 11 January 2025. At the end of the first day, Joe O'Connor led the group with four wins in four matches, and Stuart Bingham made his 600th career century. Mark Selby won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group. There were 26 century breaks made in Group 4, the highest of which was a 143 made by Bingham.

Group 4 league matches

10 January

  • Jackson Page 1–3 Jimmy RobertsonStuart Bingham 3–1 Matthew Selt
  • Jak Jones 2–3 Joe O'ConnorMark Selby 3–2 Matthew SeltStuart Bingham 3–1 Jackson Page
  • Jimmy Robertson 1–3 Joe O'ConnorMatthew Selt 3–1 Jackson PageMark Selby 3–1 Jak Jones
  • Mark Selby 2–3 Joe O'ConnorStuart Bingham 3–2 Jimmy RobertsonJak Jones 3–1 Matthew Selt
  • Jackson Page 0–'''3 Joe O'Connor'''

11 January

Matthew Selt 3–1 Jimmy RobertsonStuart Bingham 3–0 Joe O'Connor
  • Jak Jones 2–3 Jackson PageMark Selby 3–2 Jimmy RobertsonMatthew Selt 3–2 Joe O'Connor
  • Mark Selby 0–3 Stuart BinghamJak Jones 3–1 Jimmy RobertsonJak Jones 3–0 Stuart BinghamMark Selby 3–1 Jackson Page

Group 5

Group 5 was played on 20 and 21 January 2025. At the end of the first day, Judd Trump led the group with four wins in four matches. Matthew Selt won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group. There were 33 century breaks made in Group 5, the highest of which was a 138 made by Joe O'Connor. Jak Jones surpassed Selt's record of 23 for the most century breaks in a professional tournament ; at the conclusion of Group 5 Jones had made 26 in this event.

Group 5 league matches

20 January

Judd Trump 3–1 Tom FordNeil Robertson 3–2 Matthew SeltJak Jones 3–1 Joe O'ConnorJudd Trump 3–1 Stuart BinghamTom Ford 3–0 Neil Robertson
  • Matthew Selt 2–3 Joe O'ConnorJak Jones 3–0 Stuart BinghamJudd Trump 3–0 Neil RobertsonStuart Bingham 3–2 Joe O'Connor
  • Tom Ford 1–3 Matthew Selt
  • Neil Robertson 0–3 Joe O'ConnorJudd Trump 3–1 Jak Jones

21 January

Tom Ford 3–2 Joe O'Connor
  • Judd Trump 2–3 Matthew SeltJak Jones 3–1 Neil Robertson
  • Stuart Bingham 2–3 Matthew Selt
  • Tom Ford 1–3 Stuart BinghamJudd Trump 3–2 Joe O'ConnorJak Jones 3–0 Matthew SeltJak Jones 3–1 Tom FordNeil Robertson 3–1 Stuart Bingham

Group 6

Group 6 was played on 22 and 23 January 2025. At the end of the first day, Joe O'Connor led the group with four wins in four matches. O'Connor missed the final of an attempted maximum break in his match against Tom Ford. Jack Lisowski also missed the final black of an attempted maximum break in his match against Jak Jones. Judd Trump won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group. There were 24 century breaks made in Group 6, the highest of which was a 143 made by Noppon Saengkham.

Group 6 league matches

22 January

  • David Gilbert 1–3 Noppon SaengkhamJudd Trump 3–2 Jack Lisowski
  • Tom Ford 1–3 Joe O'ConnorJudd Trump 3–1 Jak JonesDavid Gilbert 3–1 Jack Lisowski
  • Noppon Saengkham 0–3 Joe O'Connor
  • Judd Trump 1–3 David GilbertJak Jones 3–1 Tom Ford
  • Jak Jones 0–3 Joe O'Connor
  • Jack Lisowski 1–3 Noppon SaengkhamJudd Trump 3–0 Tom Ford
  • David Gilbert 0–'''3 Joe O'Connor'''

23 January

  • Jack Lisowski 0–3 Joe O'ConnorJudd Trump 3–2 Noppon Saengkham
  • Tom Ford 0–3 David GilbertJak Jones 3–1 Noppon Saengkham
  • Judd Trump 1–3 Joe O'Connor
  • Jak Jones 1–3 Jack Lisowski
  • Tom Ford 1–3 Noppon Saengkham
  • Jak Jones 1–3 David GilbertTom Ford 3–0 Jack Lisowski

Group 7

Group 7 was played on 24 and 25 January 2025. At the end of the first day, Xiao Guodong and Ricky Walden led the group with three wins each. Xiao won the group and qualified for the Winners' Group. There were 16 century breaks made in Group 7, the highest of which was a maximum break made by David Gilbert, the third 147 of his career, in his 31 league match win over Zhou Yuelong.

Group 7 league matches

24 January

Xiao Guodong 3–1 Zhou YuelongXiao Guodong 3–1 Noppon SaengkhamDavid Gilbert 3–1 Joe O'Connor
  • Zhou Yuelong 1–3 Ricky Walden
  • Xiao Guodong 1–3 Ricky WaldenNoppon Saengkham 3–0 Joe O'Connor
  • David Gilbert 1–3 Noppon SaengkhamXiao Guodong 3–2 Joe O'Connor
  • David Gilbert 2–3 Ricky Walden
Result not counted after Jones's withdrawal:
  • Jak Jones 0–3 Ricky Walden
Matches not played:
  • Jak Jones v David Gilbert
  • Jak Jones v Zhou Yuelong

25 January

  • Noppon Saengkham 1–3 Ricky WaldenZhou Yuelong 3–0 Joe O'Connor
  • Noppon Saengkham 2–3 Zhou YuelongXiao Guodong 3–1 David GilbertDavid Gilbert 3–1 Zhou Yuelong
  • Joe O'Connor 2–3 Ricky Walden
Matches not played:
  • Xiao Guodong v Jak Jones
  • Jak Jones v Noppon Saengkham
  • Jak Jones v Joe O'Connor

Winners' Group

The Winners' Group was played on 4 and 5 February 2025. At the end of the first day, Judd Trump led the group with four wins in four matches. Mark Selby won the group and the tournament, beating Kyren Wilson 30 in the final. There were 24 century breaks made in the Winners' Group, the highest of which was a maximum break made by Selby, the sixth 147 of his career, in his 32 league match win over Xiao Guodong. After the final match, which took only 52 minutes, Selby said: "This event is difficult to win, I'd have been happy to win it once but twice is even better! I played a lot better today compared to yesterday. I scored well when I got my chances and it's nice to beat somebody like Kyren . He's the man of the moment and you get confidence from it."

Winners' Group league matches

4 February

Judd Trump 3–1 Si Jiahui
  • Kyren Wilson 0–3 Xiao GuodongJudd Trump 3–2 Mark SelbyHossein Vafaei 3–0 Matthew SeltKyren Wilson 3–0 Matthew SeltSi Jiahui 3–2 Xiao GuodongMark Selby 3–0 Hossein VafaeiJudd Trump 3–2 Xiao GuodongKyren Wilson 3–2 Si Jiahui
  • Mark Selby 2–3 Matthew SeltXiao Guodong 3–0 Matthew SeltJudd Trump 3–2 Hossein Vafaei

5 February

Judd Trump 3–0 Kyren Wilson
  • Si Jiahui 1–3 Matthew Selt
  • Xiao Guodong 0–3 Hossein Vafaei
  • Kyren Wilson 1–3 Mark SelbyJudd Trump 3–2 Matthew SeltMark Selby 3–2 Si JiahuiKyren Wilson 3–1 Hossein VafaeiMark Selby 3–2 Xiao Guodong
  • Si Jiahui 0–'''3 Hossein Vafaei'''

Century breaks

A total of 177 century breaks were made during the tournament.147, 141, 140, 135, 134, 134, 129, 127, 125, 120, 120, 120, 111, 110, 107, 105, 100, 100 Mark Selby147, 139, 135, 135, 134, 134, 129, 127, 127, 127, 126, 126, 126, 124, 120, 119, 117, 116, 115, 115, 115, 113, 113, 109, 109, 107, 106, 103, 103, 102, 101, 100 Jak Jones147, 135, 133, 124, 120, 101, 100 David Gilbert143, 136, 133, 126, 121, 121, 120, 110, 103 Stuart Bingham
Note: Bold = highest break in the indicated group.

Winnings

No.Player1234567WTotal
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